HSC - Landslides

What is a landslide?

• When part of the land starts sliding down
• When water moves rocks into the ocean
• When trees grow on cliffs
• When rocks fall from the sky

What would happen if there were houses on the side of the mountain during a landslide?

• The houses would be safe
• The houses would be washed away with the land
• The land would stop moving
• The houses would help stop the landslide

What is erosion?

• When water flows slowly on flat land
• The process of building mountains
• The process of changing the shape of the land
• When soil stays in place on hills

What happened in Big Sur before the landslide?

• The area became very dry
• A lot of rain fell
• New trees were planted
• There were wildfires in the area

Why do landslides happen?

• Because water makes the soil slick and wet, causing it to slide downhill
• Because the soil is very dry
• Because plants grow too fast
• Because the wind is strong on mountains

What can erosion create?

• Mountains and valleys
• Canyons, fans, and landslides
• New plants and trees
• Strong winds and rain

What do the leaves on trees do when it rains

• Block the sun from hitting the ground
• Let all the rain hit the ground hard
• Catch the raindrops so the rain hits the ground softly
• Push the rainwater down the hill

How do small plants and dead leaves help with erosion?

• They break the soil into small pieces
• They create more rain
• They stop the rain from falling
• They soak up some of the rainwater

What do the roots of plants do?

• Hold the soil in place
• Make the soil soft and loose
• Push the soil downhil
• Absorb the sunlight

What happens to the soil after a wildfire?

• The soil loosens and can wash away more easily
• The soil becomes stronger
• The soil becomes very dry and hard
• The soil turns into rocks